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Monday, October 12, 2015

Ellen Chester and More of the Circle of Life

Ellen Chester was here!

Oh, is there anything better than to look at a brand new project all kitted up and ready to stitch on?? Here is my Kindred Spirits kit when I sat down at class.(I pulled out the threads so you could see them) The box looked like a work of art just by itself.

Ellen and her husband were a delight to host. DH took Ellen's DH to a hockey game with GS#1. And they spent an afternoon at the Museum of Flight. The museum has a special WWII exhibit open. I hear a good time was had by all.

Here is one of our classes. Now I have 3 new projects (Kindred Spirits, The Lady's Workbox and The Needleworkers' Huswife) and all of them are such beauties. Thanks, Ellen for such a great weekend!

I showed you my Laura Perin Red White & Blue finish in my last post. Here it is all framed and ready for hanging.

Here is my latest WIP--the birth announcement for GD#3 coming in December from DD#3. I'm planning to use buttons for all the polka dots and wheels on the carriage. And beads for the little polka dots. Hopefully it will be glitzy enough to please both mother and new little daughter! They have picked out her name and it will be Courtney Grace--isn't it beautiful?

Back from the finisher-Marnie Ritter's Our Heart (hanging on my little white feather tree on top of the piano)

And Jeannette Douglass' Trio Pins and Needles (also on my white feather tree) The kit came with the pins and wooden tag.

And I also got back Shepherd's Bush Fold pincushion. I left off the black/white checkered bottom border because it seemed to be getting so big. Glad I did now-it still looks beautiful without the border.

New stash-

I took the design from the cover and "rearranged" a few motifs for my Northwest Sampler Guild tea challenge. This year's challenge is stitching monochromatically. This will go on a box I already have. All the stitching is done. I just need to add some buttons. "Boutons" is French for "buttons"

Now, about the Circle of Life for me this year.

In August we got the news that DD#2 is expecting again and is due in April. Yes, that will be grandchild #6 for us. We are delighted as always and will welcome as many grandchildren as God sends.

Then on Sept 9th my father passed away. It had been coming all summer so it was no surprise. But on the very same day, my sister was checked into a hospital's cardiac care unit due to side effects from the cancer treatment she is undergoing. Now imagine me trying to book a flight out of Seattle and trying to avoid flying on Sept 11!!

So September was a very stressful month and Dad's death was the third one this year for our family.

This is the beautiful bouquet my daughters sent to their grandmother.

I decide not to post any pictures of this funeral (unlike my MIL's funeral casket in June). Remember I told you that funerals in the Midwest are NOT like the funeral's here on the West coast?? Well, Mom decided on an open casket for the funeral viewing and that took me awhile to adjust to. The well-wishers all took it matter-of-factly. In this part of the country we have memorial services with photos, flowers, singing and sharing of memories, but NO caskets are in view. Graveside services are Family-Only!

One more thing to share today. While I was taking photos, I realized that I forgot to share with you an exchange piece I received at the sampler guild retreat in June. It was an exchange of smalls and this is what I got-

Envelope back above

Envelope front above-the inside is lined.

Matching scissor fob above

Aren't they lovely? I was thrilled.

I am keeping up with reading your blogs and you keep on inspiring me. I'll try to post more often.

So sorry to hear about your Father's passing. Tough year... God is blessing your family with a new arrival in December and then April, which I am sure helps take away the sting. I hope your sister is doing better. As always, you do some pretty amazing works! Is the Baby Announcement a needlepoint project? It is so cute! Thanks for sharing! Hugs!

So sorry for your loss, and lots of good thoughts and prayers for your sister. I hope she recovers quickly. How lovely that you and your family got to host Ellen and her husband! Ellen is such a nice lady. I love what you got to stitch at her class. Love all your beautiful work. Oh, and congrats on future grandchild number 6!

Ellen's class was so fun! I love that project but have yet to finish it. The box is beautiful, isn't it? Love all your finishes. The SB pieces are so pretty and I agree about the border on the pincushion.I'm so sorry to hear about your father and your sister's complications, too. I hope things are getting better for you and her and both your families.Congrats on another grandbaby; that's exciting!!!